New York Giants quarterback JJ McCarthy (18) is tackled by New Orleans Saints cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (22) at MetLife Stadium.
New York Giants quarterback JJ McCarthy (18) is tackled by New Orleans Saints cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (22) at MetLife Stadium.
The New York Giants finally gave former Minnesota Vikings QB JJ McCarthy more than a few “McCarthy package” snaps on Sunday. In return, they were treated to the full JJ McCarthy experience, in a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints that included a wild near comeback from the former No. 10 overall draft pick.
McCarthy took over for Jameis Winston with 11:31 left in the fourth quarter, after Winston’s second interception set up a Chris Olave touchdown that put New Orleans up 34-10 at MetLife Stadium.
JJ McCarthy throws INT on third pass for NY Giants vs Saints
What followed was a little bit of everything from the QB Minnesota traded to New York for a 2027 fifth-round pick last month. In fact, as if it was written for a movie, McCarthy’s third pass of the day ended in an interception to Martin Emerson Jr., the same DB who picked off Winston before he was pulled.
Emerson Jr. with his 2nd INT of the day!
#Saints | 📺: FOX https://t.co/oXwin2McM3
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 18, 2026
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That was McCarthy’s first interception since joining the Giants. In 10 starts with the Vikings last season, he threw 12 interceptions to just 11 touchdowns.
From there, however, the 24-year-old led the Giants on a 17-0 run that ended on 4th down in the Saints’ redzone, one touchdown short of what they needed to tie the game.
Former MN Vikings QB answers with first Giants touchdown
On the very next drive, McCarthy completed a pass to Malik Nabers for 27 yards and Fields for 8, to set up a 5-yard Tyrone Tracy Jr. touchdown run. One drive later, he found tight end Isaiah Likely for for a pretty 24-yard touchdown, McCarthy’s first as a Giant.
J.J. finds Isaiah Likely 🙌
📺: FOX https://t.co/0fLSL9TMTV
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 18, 2026
JJ also hit Charlie Jones for 49 yards and threw another pick to Emerson on that same drive, but replay overturned his second INT (and what would have been Emerson’s third of the day).
The two-point try to Nabers fell incomplete, leaving it 34-24. McCarthy then went 4-for-4 on the following drive, including a 46-yarder to Nabers, before Dominic Zvada’s 41-yard field goal cut the lead to 34-27 with 2:04 left.
Former Vikings QB comes up short on final drive vs Saints
After a Saints punt, McCarthy got the ball back at the Giants’ 29 with 57 seconds left and no timeouts. He scrambled 28 yards on the first play, then hit Likely for 20 yards and Nabers for 9 to reach the Saints’ 14.
McCarthy spiked the ball on third-and-1 with 13 seconds left, leaving the Giants one play. His fourth-down throw to Likely fell incomplete under pressure from Chase Young, and the Saints took a knee to finish off the 34-27 win.
JJ MCCARTHY TO ISAIAH LIKELY IN TRIPLE COVERAGE https://t.co/1DXpSSFevT
— wok (@wokdior) October 18, 2026
McCarthy finished 11-for-21 for 243 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he ran twice for 26 yards. Four of his completions went to Nabers for 95 yards.
Winston went 14-for-26 for 152 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before McCarthy replaced him. The Giants, now 3-2-1, visit the Houston Texans next Sunday at noon CT.